Central Sourcing Support

As a Central Sourcing Support at Polaris, your essential duties include managing supplier relations by communicating concerns and opportunities internally, assisting with cost recovery initiatives, maintaining supplier data, supporting sourcing projects, and managing tooling requests. Additionally, you will identify and implement workflow improvements, track task progress, and collaborate with teams to resolve issues regarding pricing and parts shortages.

To qualify for the Central Sourcing Support position at Polaris, candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related technical field. While prior experience in materials or purchasing is beneficial, it is not mandatory. Additionally, certifications such as APICS CPIM or ISM C.P.M./A.P.P. are considered a plus but not required.

Successful candidates for the Central Sourcing Support role at Polaris should possess strong negotiation, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, alongside being highly organized and capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines effectively. Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, is also crucial for this role.

In the supplier management aspect of the Central Sourcing Support role at Polaris, key responsibilities include maintaining supplier data, communicating supplier concerns, approving tooling requests, onboarding new suppliers, and supporting contract routing. You will also collaborate with various teams to resolve discrepancies and improve production capacity.

A Central Sourcing Support at Polaris can expect a hybrid work environment based in Plymouth, MN, with core onsite days from Tuesday to Thursday. This setup allows for flexibility while ensuring collaboration with the team and maintaining close communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.

When answering this question, focus on your previous experiences managing supplier relationships, including how you communicated effectively with suppliers, resolved issues, and documented concerns. Highlight specific examples that demonstrate your negotiation and problem-solving skills.

To answer this effectively, discuss your organizational strategies, such as using task management tools, prioritizing based on deadlines, and considering the impact of tasks on the overall project. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed multiple tasks in previous roles.

When addressing this question, talk about your attention to detail and organizational skills. Discuss the tools or systems you've used for data entry and management, and share examples of how you have maintained integrity in supplier data to enhance operations.

In your response, articulate your approach to identifying cost discrepancies, engaging with suppliers to negotiate recoveries, and any specific methodologies you've used in past roles. Provide concrete examples of successful initiatives you've implemented.

Provide a pertinent example focusing on the steps you took to address the conflict, the communication strategies you employed, and the outcome. Emphasize your negotiation skills and ability to foster strong relationships.

Discuss any analytical tools or methodologies you've employed in past roles. Explain how you've used data analysis to inform sourcing decisions or identify opportunities for cost savings, and provide specific examples.

Highlight your teamwork skills by sharing experiences of how you’ve effectively collaborated with internal teams. Discuss the importance of open communication and how you ensure alignment on objectives and resolutions.

Emphasize the integral role communication plays in supplier relations and internal collaboration. Describe techniques you've used to communicate clearly and concisely, and provide examples of situations where strong communication led to positive outcomes.

Share your organizational methods, such as using project management software, creating checklists, or setting reminders. Offer specific examples of how these methods have helped you stay on top of various tasks in previous jobs.

When responding, reflect on aspects like driving efficiency, improving supplier relationships, or contributing to the larger company goals. Discuss how aligning your own motivation with the company’s objectives, such as those at Polaris, enhances your performance.